Parachute



J. A. EL VEAN.

PARACHUTE, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1919.

mmw, Patented June 1, 1920.

JOHN A. EL VEAN, OF

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR-OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. MORRISETTE, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

PARACHUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed December 8, 1919. Serial No. 343,147.,

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, JOHN A. EL VEAN, a citizen of the United States residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Parachute, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to parachutes, and more particularly to parachutes to housed in connection with aeroplanes, balloons, or the like.

It is a known fact, that due to the machinery, truss rods, and other elements which go to make up an aeroplane, it is with exceeding ditficulty that aviators, or passengers of an aeroplane, may descend therefrom by the use of a parachute, due to the fact that the ordinary parachute now in use, requires great space to house the same, when not in use, in order that the parachute will properly unfold at the proper time.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a parachute which will unfold instantaneously when the jump is made, thereby obviating the necessity of the sheer drop, of one to three hundred feet, that is necessary with ordinary parachutes, and making possible a jump of fifty feet from earth, with absolute safety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing or casing for the parachute, wherein the parachute may be folded into a comparatively small space with no chance of the same being held or caught, which might prevent the same from unfolding when the jump is made.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a parachute constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view showing the spring in detail.

Fig. 4 illustrates the parachute folded age, and one which will unfold to its open I position, in the event that brought into operation.

This body 5, is preferably formedof a plurality of connecting segments 6, radiating from a central opening or vent 7, which vent, permits a predetermined amount of air to pass therethrough, when the parachute is making a descension; U The lower inner edge of the body, at points between the edges 8 of the se ment' 6, is provided with spaced pockets, ormedi of leather strips 9 secured to the body bya suitable means, not shown, the pockets'bethe same is to be 'IlIl O eration OI bein" used b 1L erson 3 b p V ing also housed by the fold or inturned ed v 10 of the body.

Flat metallic spring members 11, having their ends 12 and 13 positioned Within the pockets, by the same are held in position in I I the body, and prevented from displacement,=v to insure the operation thereof, when the de- Vice is to be unfolded, and brought into use.

The supporting cables 13,l1ave their re spective upper ends connected to the lower edge of the body of the parachute, in spaced relation with each other, as at 14, the lower ends thereof extend downwardly and have connection with a closure 14' including a circular frame, which is formed of sectional metallic members 15, adjustably secured together, at their ends, as at 16, the frame supporting a suitable wire mesh, or other suitable fabric.

The bracing members 17, have their upper ends connected to the body of the parachute, at points remote from the points of connection between the body and supporting cables 13, the lower ends thereof extend downwardly and have connection with the supporting cables 13, as at 19. It will therefore be seen that swinging movement of the supporting cables with relation to the body, is prevented, and the strain directed to the thereof.

edge 1 horizontal bar 20,-is supported at the moment the jump lower end of the supporting cables 13, by means of the depending cables 21, said horizontal bar forming a seat, or means by which the person using the parachute may be secured thereto, during the descension. When the parachute is not in use, the same is properly springs take the position as shown by Fig. 4, the same being shown as folded inwardly and held in such position by means of the cover 22, which as shown, is substantially cone-shaped, and receives the folded body of the parachute, the closure 14 being then positioned over the open end of the coneshaped cover 22, to prevent the metallic springs ,from forcing the parachute from its positionwithin the cover.

In operation, the cover is removed, instantaneously releasing the parachute at the is made. The foregoing operation ,is caused by the metallic springs 11 expanding to the limits of their expansions, thereby forcing the lower edge outwardly to form a complete circuit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the opening of the parachute is instantaneous, due to the action of the springs 11, and that air is not relied upon for causing the para chute to open.

folded, so that the metallic upper ends connected to the lower edge of the parachute, a cover for the parachute, and

a closure for securing the parachute in the cover.

2; In a parachute, a flexible body portion,

the lower edge of said body portion being inturned to form a pocket, auxiliary pockets within the first mentioned pocket, metallic springs having their ends positioned within the auxiliary pockets, a cover for the parachute when the same is in its folded position, supporting cables depending from the body of the parachute, a closure connected to the lower ends of the supporting cable, and adapted to close the cover, when the pararhute is in its folded position.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

B. F. CARTWRIGHT, Jr., \VM. H. LAUDER. 

